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Who is Yaphet Kotto's wife Tessie Sinahon? Inside beautiful love story and three marriages after death at 81

Kotto's wife Tessie Sinahon took to social media to share, 'I'm saddened and still in shock of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years'

Yaphet Kotto, a critically-acclaimed method actor who starred in ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’, sci-fi thriller ‘Alien’ and James Bond film ‘Live and Let Die’ has died at age 81. The Jewish actor, known for appearing opposite Robert De Niro in the comedy thriller ‘Midnight Runto’, was married three times.

His current wife Tessie Sinahon took to social media to share, "I'm saddened and still in shock of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years.” The Emmy-nominated actor died on Monday, March 15.

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Sinahon wrote, "You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you’re a real hero and to a lot of people also. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find. One of the best actor in Hollywood a Legend. Rest in Peace Honey, I’m gonna miss you everyday, my bestfriend, my rock.”

Who was Yaphet Kotto?

Born on November 15, 1939, in New York City, Yaphet Kotto was raised by his mother Gladys Marie, a nurse and US Army officer. According to his son originally named Njoki Manga Bell, his father is Avraham Kotto, a businessman from Cameroon who immigrated to the United States in the 1920s.

At 16, Kotto went to Actors Mobile Theater Studio to study acting and three years later, embarked on the path to make his professional acting debut in 'Othello'. Did you know he got his first project on Broadway, where he appeared in 'The Great White Hope', among other productions?

Kotto has played a number of iconic roles in television as well as films including his Primetime Emmy-nominated performance for President Idi Amin Dada in ‘Raid on Entebbe’,  Lieutenant Al Giardello in NBC television series ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ (1993–1999), and the unforgettable villain Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big in the James Bond movie ‘Live and Let Die (1973)’.

Who were Yaphet Kotto's three wives?

Rita Ingrid Dittman

Yaphet Kotto married three times, first in 1959 to Rita Ingrid Dittman, a German immigrant. The couple had three kids and eventually divorced in 1976.

Toni Pettyjohn

Later, Kotto married his second wife Toni Pettyjohn reportedly in 1965 and also had three children. Kotto and Pettyjohn ended up in divorce in 1989. 

Tessie Sinahon

The ‘Raid on Entebbe’ actor got married again to Tessie Sinahon, on July 12, 1998. According to a report, the couple, Kotto who was 50 at the time and his wife Sinahin, a native of the Philippines, met in 1983. The report suggested that the lucky encounter happened at an airport and the "meet-cute" ended up in five years of courtship which eventually led to their marriage. 

‘A superb actor and a respected man’

Social media users have mourned the death of the legendary actor. A user stated, "Just learned the great Yaphet Kotto has passed away at 81. A superb actor and a socially conscious, respected man. He gave so many indelible performances, particularly in BLUE COLLAR, a film that made a gigantic impression on me. R.I.P. Yaphet; you are and will be so missed."

Writer Kelly Sue Deconnick wrote about the Newyorker, "All the years I lived in NYC, my favorite bit of graffiti said 'Yaphet Kotto f**king crazy'. I never read it to mean 'Yaphet Kotto [is] f**king crazy'. Rather, I understood in this instance 'Yaphet Kotto' was an adverb meaning something close to 'supremely'."

Another writer Tolkien Negro noted, "Damn. Funnier than he had any right to be. Versatile as f**k. Royalty in Cameroon. Jewish, too. Made everything just that much better, from Alien and Live and Let Die to Midnight Run and The Running Man. I should dig up his Othello. I bet it’s a sight to see. #RIP #YaphetKotto."